THE CASH JOURNAL

Monday, December 18, 2017

THE CASH JOURNAL FOR 12-21-17

[PLEASE NOTE - NO STATE NEWS BRIEFS THIS WEEK. NOT A LOT OF INTERESTING STUFF HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY. I'LL CHECK NEXT WEEK IF THERE'S ENOUGH FOR BRIEFS THEN. THANK YOU.]

CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 12-21-17

By Cash Michaels

SAVING MY LIFE [PART 4] – Merry Christmas, and I truly hope that Almighty GOD is blessing you and yours as we all celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For the past several weeks, I’ve been sharing with you how GOD has guided my recovery from a debilitating stroke in 2014; and from a diagnosis of acute leukemia in March 2016.

That recovery involved me changing my attitude, changing my diet, and changing how I treat my body…all centered on improving my relationship with GOD, and going back to church so that His inspiration would carry through my changes.

The result after six months? My health is definitely better (blood pressure and blood sugar are normal); I’ve lost over 50 lbs; and I feel much better and confident about myself.

Now don’t get me wrong…I still have problems and challenges, but at least, with GOD’s blessing and mercy, and LESSONS, I’m better able to deal with them.

My love for, and faith in Jesus Christ, tells me that HE wants me to TAKE BETTER CARE OF MYSELF, to have more confidence in myself as a child of GOD, and that I am responsible for properly maintaining the temple that HE has given me.

To do that, I MUST eat properly in order to live properly (eat to live, NOT live to eat as I was before). by paying close attention (as best as i can in this society given all of the garbage that passes for food), i should wean myself off of sugar (which is as addictive as cocaine, many say) animal fats (except for nuts), and excessive sodium (truth be told, I'm still working on that one, but at least my blood pressure has gone down with the loss of weight).

Doing the above, supplementing with fruit, romaine salads every day, protein (plant, fish or chicken), and lots of water, and eating for mostly purpose, not for only ceremony, has added years to my life, I'm convinced.

Paying close attention to what I'm eating, and how much of it, is also VERY important, which is why I don't watch TV and eat at the same time anymore (I may snack on fruit or nuts, but TV would get me emotionally hyped-up to the point that I would have no idea how much I was eating, or getting up to go back to the kitchen during commercial breaks. Plus, the daily news about Trump was making me too anxious, so I've stopped watching as much television news).

Knowing, and working to improve myself spiritually, emotionally and physically has ABSOLUTELY made me feel better about myself, and consequently, I'm praying more too!

YES, I ask my Heavenly Father for things...mostly for others in my life. I ask for HIM to continue bless friends and family, but most of all, I spend a great deal of time THANKING GOD for HIS blessings in my life, and in the lives of those I love and cherish. Thanking GOD is part of the feel good process for me, because gratitude to GOD for ALL that HE has done, and IS DOING in our lives, IS ESSENTIAL for any of it to truly mean anything!

And, when you know that GOD's blessings are working in your life, and the lives of those you love and cherish, that gives you the balance you've always been seeking. You're able to weather your tough times better! Better to see more clearly when the devil is working to stop you, and who he is working through to do it.

Your understanding of the world around is so, so much better, especially your place in it!

You understand your personal mission better, and you're more determined to see it through, because your faith in, and strength through GOD, is what powers you.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and GOD bless you and your family. PART FIVE next week!

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2017: A YEAR OF TURMOIL [PART ONE]

by Cash Michaels

contributing writer

It was the year of recovering from the 2016 election of Donald Trump; when a Democratic governor came into office in North Carolina, bitterly opposed by GOP lawmakers; and a prominent black leader gained national prominence as he stepped away from the NCNAACP.

Those were just some of the top stories impacting North Carolina’s African-American community we covered in 2017. In Part One, here’s a look at an eventful January through March.

January – Wake Superior Court Judge Michael Morgan is sworn-in to the NC Supreme Court, making him the second African-American to currently serve. Democrat Roy Cooper is sworn-in as governor, having unseated Republican Pat McCrory in the November 2016 election. Gov. Cooper immediately fulfills a campaign promise, choosing one of the most diverse gubernatorial Cabinets and administrations in North Carolina history. Meanwhile the director of the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro alleges to the Black Press that the facility is not being treated fairly by the City Council or Duke Energy.

At the urging of NC Republican legislative leaders, the Us Supreme Court ordered a hold on any redrawing of the 2011 redistricting maps, as originally ordered by a special federal three-judge panel after the November 2016 elections. Gov. Cooper and Republican legislative leaders get into a war of words over repealing the controversial HB2 so-called “bathroom bill,” in addition to the NC General Assembly passing laws during a special session in Dec. 2016 that stripped the Democratic governor of many of his powers. Cooper sued the legislature, as a result.

Gov. Cooper appoints Durham Rep. Larry Hall, 61, to become secretary of veteran and military affairs, adding to the eventual large number of African-Americans serving in the governor’s Cabinet. As outgoing President Barack Obama prepares to leave office after eight years, North Carolinians dread the inauguration of Republican Donald Trump as the 45^th president of the United States.

A new study denotes that Black women are dying of cervical cancer at an alarming 77 percent rate higher to white women.

February – The NCNAACP blasts Pres. Trump’s false assertions of voter fraud. Duke Prof. Timothy B. Tyson makes national headlines with his new book, “The Blood of Emmett Till,” when the Mississippi white woman whose husband killed the black Chicago teenager in 1956, admits for the first time that the 14-year-old did nothing wrong. The NCNAACP-led Forward Together Movement holds it’s 11^th Annual HK on J Moral March on Raleigh and People’s Assembly. The GOP-led state Senate demands to vet Gov. Cooper’s Cabinet officers before approving them to serve. Gov. Cooper appoints Col. Glenn McNeil as commander of the NC Highway Patrol. Chancellors and presidents from North Carolina’s HBCU’s meet with Pres. Trump, and GOP lawmakers.

March – US Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions announces that the US Justice Dept will no longer legally fight against voter ID laws. The NCNAACP and National NAACP Pres. Cornell Brooks call for an international economic boycott of North Carolina because of “repressive” policies by the Republican-led NC legislature. HBCU presidents and chancellors begin to doubt Trump administration promises to their schools. Emboldened by the Trump Administration, hate groups increase across the country.

Rock and roll icon Chuck berry dies at age 90. The Winston-Salem Chronicle is sold by founder/publisher Ernie Pitt. The controversial HB2 “bathroom bill” is repealed, shows and sporting events begin returning to North Carolina after a boycott. Kalvin Michael Smith, who supporters said was falsely convicted and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, is shot after he’s released from prison, ans is listed in serious condition.

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DID GOP ATTORNEY UP

FOR FEDERAL JUDGE LIE?

By Cash Michaels

Editor

A Raleigh attorney who has represented the NC Republican Party in defending voter ID and racial gerrymandering, is now in hot water for allegedly lying to the Senate Judiciary Committee that approved his Trump nomination to the federal bench.

Atty. Thomas Farr, up for the lifetime appointment to federal judgeship of US District Court in the Eastern District of North Carolina, cleared the committee last month with flying colors, but before the full Senate votes to approve his judicial nomination, new questions have come up about Farr’s role in the 1990 campaign of the late Republican Senator Jesse Helms, and to what extent did Farr involve himself in a “ballot security” scheme designed to intimidate black voters statewide during Helm’s racially divisive 1990 US Senate campaign against black Democratic challenger, Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt.

One hundred-thousand “ballot security” postcards were sent to black Democratic voters statewide from the NC Republican Party, warning them falsely that if they tried to vote in precincts they were not registered in, they were “ineligible” to cast a ballot, and could be arrested and thrown in jail,

Farr was the lead counsel for the Helms’ campaign in 1990. Last September, he told Senate Judiciary Committee that he knew nothing about the ballot security postcards until after the US Justice Dept sent a letter to the campaign about it.

But a former US Justice Dept. attorney, Gerald Hebert, told the Independent Weekly Newspaper of Durham last week that per his investigation at the time, Farr took part in a key meeting before any letter was sent to the campaign by federal authorities.

And yet, Farr is on record telling Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Se. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) “No” when she asked him, “While you were serving as lead counsel to the 1990 Helms for Senate Committee, the Justice Department filed a complaint in federal court charging the campaign with intimidating black voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?”

“The complaint alleged that the campaign sent over 100,000 postcards to mainly African-American voters suggesting that they were ineligible to vote and that voting could lead to criminal prosecution for voter fraud. Did you provide any counsel, or were you consulted in any way, about the content of or the decision to send these postcards?" Feinstein continued.

A transcript show attorney Farr replying, “"I was not aware that the cards had been sent until they had been sent and the manager of the Helms Committee received a letter about the cards from the Voting Rights Section of the United States Department of Justice,. The manager of the Helms Committee then called me for legal advice."

US Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) has now asked the US Justice Dept. for a 1991 memo that outlines the ballot security scheme, and allegedly places Farr right in the middle of it.

“It is clear to me that this memo is essential in determining whether Mr. Farr misled the Senate Judiciary Committee, Booker wrote in a letter to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Strong opposition to Farr’s judicial nomination has come from both North Carolina congress-people, G. K. Butterfield and Alma Adams, and from the NCNAACP.

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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

THE CASH JOURNL FOR 12-14-17

CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 12-14-17

By Cash Michaels

SAVING MY LIFE – Make no mistake…if it wasn’t for the grace of GOD, I wouldn’t be here to write this column to you. The list of chronic diseases I was suffering from were as long as a baseball team roster. But with me turning age 62 in about three weeks, I can honestly say that I’ve never been in better shape than I am today.

This is part three of a column I started several weeks ago, sharing with you why getting back into good health is much, much more than just diet and losing weight.

But I had to go through a whole lot to learn that!

Diabetes in 2006 (blood sugar OVER 800!!! (they had to test the urine sample several times to confirm, and couldn't understand how I even drove to the clinic, because by bodily organs were breaking down, and they knew I wouldn't live past the weekend if I wasn't taken to Duke IMMEDIATELY and put on an IV to get my blood sugar back down to 157).

Severe stroke in my left leg and arm in November 2014 ( two physcian friends I emailed about why I couldn't suddenly walk, even though I was feeling no pain insisted that it was neurological, and I get to the emergency room STAT. The following month, my new cardio doctor put two stents in my heart to protect against a more massive stroke).

Acute leukemia in March 2016 (rushed to the emergency room literally feeling my body breaking down. After some tests, AML diagnosed, and i'm transferred, IN SHOCK, by ambulance to UNC Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill. For the next five to six months, I undergo AGGRESSIVE chemotherapy. It's really only later do i understand that cancer cells were literally destroying my white blood cells rapidly, leaving me with no immune system to fight off infection. With GOD's blessing, the doctors and nurses at UNC, and eventually at Rex, work diligently to SAVE MY LIFE!

I've been in remission for over a year now. If I can remain cancer-free (no recurrence of cancer cells anywhere in my body) for the next four years and counting, then I, most likely, will remain cancer-free (at least as far as AML is concerned) for the rest of my life).

Last August, my colonoscopy was negative as well (Praise GOD).

So given the self-inflicted drama in my own life, I can bear witness to ALL of the above personally, and that gives me license to say the following.....

IF YOU DON'T SERIOUSLY WORK TO CHANGE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR SELF, THE PARTS YOU DON'T ADDRESS WILL BRING ALL OF YOU DOWN!!!

Don't lose weight just to look good or feel good! Lose weight because you KNOW that your dying spiritually, emotionally, and physically!

YOU HAVE TO FIX ALL THREE!

Build (or rebuild) your relationship with GOD FIRST, because it is from THAT, that all of your strength will flow from!

You see, you've tried dieting before, only to gain ALL of the weight back, and then some.

I'll never forget many years ago before he died, one of the greatest singers in my lifetime, Luther Vandross, appeared on Oprah. He had just lost a tremendous amount of weight, and looked great. Oprah asked how he did it, and Luther pointedly said he stopped eating all breads in his diet, and that did the trick.

But Luther also said something that now explains why he eventually put all of that weight back on. Luther was in a new relationship....but once that relationship broke up (apparently badly), distraught, he went back to emotional eating.

Luther left us too soon.

Indeed, most of our most famous artists - Michael Jackson, Prince, etc., left us too soon because they emotionally abused themselves with substances that destroyed their minds, and their temples, through addiction.

THINK ABOUT IT!

Your faith should inform how you conduct yourself emotionally, and how you conduct yourself emotionally should inform how you treat yourself nutritionally and physically.

My love and faith in Jesus Christ, tells me that HE wants me to TAKE BETTER CARE OF MYSELF, to have more confidence in myself as a child of GOD, and that I am responsible for properly maintaining the temple that HE has given me.

More next week in part four.

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EXCLUSIVE

BRADLEY CREEK EXEC TALKS OF

“POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL ACTION”

by Cash Michaels

staff writer

In the aftermath of last week’s shocking controversy involving a “black mammy” Christmas calendar distributed to residents of Bradley Creek at Carolina Bay Health Center, The Wilmington Journal, at the invitation of Jeff Wilson, the chief operating officer of Liberty Health Management, Bradley Creek’s parent company, submitted questions for him to answer as to why the racist holiday calendar came about in the first place.

The Journal asked Mr. Wilson to respond to the questions by Tuesday of this week.

But on Monday, Wilson forwarded the following email: “Bradley Creek has been made aware of the possibility of legal action. As a result, it would not be appropriate to provide further comment.”

Wilson continued, “We acknowledge the offensive nature of this image, and again, sincerely apologize for its use.”

Apparently, Bradley Creek is concerned that the black former employee it “suspended until further notice” after she took a picture of the offensive calendar and gave it to the NCNAACP may sue the company for it’s punitive action against her.

Marvelia Jackson, who worked as a medical technician at Bradley Creek, and was one of two black staffers to complain about the “slave lady” calendar to management, forcing them to retrieve all of the calendars distributed four days after they were originally given out, may indeed have a legal case against Bradley Creek, says atty. Irving Joyner, chairman of the NCNAACP Legal Redress Committee.

“I surmise that Ms. Jackson has a viable employment discrimination claim for her wrongful dismissal based on race and retaliation for the reporting of the action of the [Activity Director] in circulating the racist poster,” Joyner told The Wilmington Journal. “Further investigation is needed to determine if there is a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in operating an all-white nursing home which is receiving federal and possibly state monies.”

“The NC NAACP has not been in conversation with the company, and typically leaves that contact up to the local branch to flush out the facts, and need for other legal or administrative actions.”

That means the New Hanover County NAACP branch is the tip of the spear in this situation. The Journal can confirm that representatives of the branch met with Ms. Jackson Monday, and possibly Tuesday as well. During their press conference last Friday, NHC NAACP Chapter Pres. Deborah Dix Maxwell declared that they were indeed investigating, and would determine if civil rights legal action was needed.

Whether that is what CCO Jeff Wilson of Liberty Health Management was reacting to is not clear.

Meanwhile, the Activity Director at Bradley Creek at Carolina Bay who was responsible for the racist Christmas calendar that displayed an old image of a black mammy saying “Merry Christmas,” was fired after the Wilmington Journal first and exclusively broke the story December 7^th.

In an online message sent to The Journal the following evening, Jennifer Dicicco Alaimo, the former Activity Director, wrote, “This is Jenny. At this time I think it best to not say anything.”

Alaimo was responding to a written request by online message from The Wilmington Journal, requesting an interview to get her side of the story as to why she chose what is generally considered a demeaning old racist image to place on a Christmas calendar listing the events for senior residents for the month of December.

That calendar was distributed to residents at Bradley Creek on December 1^st and hung on display, until two black staffers saw it, and complained to management about it. The calendars were then taken back from distribution of Monday, Dec. 4^th.

“I heard from family members that the residents are upset over my termination,” Ms. Alaimo continued. “I am not ‘thoughtless.’ I will talk to you when things settle down. The residents are my first priority.”

When The Journal acknowledged that not speaking now was her choice, and that it will be respected until such time that she is ready, Ms. Alaimo replied, “Thank you for respecting my wishes and my love for my residents. I’ll be in touch soon.”

At press time Tuesday, The Journal had not heard back from Ms. Alaimo.

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GOV. COOPER AND CHIEF JUSTICE

ACCEPT NCNAACP MEETING INVITE

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

With the stated Dec. 15^th deadline to respond looming this week, Republican legislative leaders – Senate Pro tem Phil Berger and House Tim Moore - have yet to acknowledge a Nov. 27th invitation rendered by the NCNAACP several weeks ago to meet with the civil rights group to discuss criminal justice reform, and other issues.

“I have not heard from the remaining two as was expected,” Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, president of the NCNAACP told this newspaper Tuesday. “Their patterns are proven and sure.”

It was Nov. 27^th in a letter when Dr. Spearman invited the heads of “the three co-equal branches of government” to meet with the NCNAACP.

“Today, while our nation and state are in the midst of great political turbulence, caused at least in part by racist voting an criminal justice policies and practices, there is a great need for honest political leaders to speak directly with each other and listen carefully across the table of civility,” he wrote then.

Thus far, both Gov. Roy Cooper and NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin have accepted the invitations issued by Spearman.

“The N.C. Constitution provides these three co-equal branches of our government [executive, legislative and judicial] shall operate independently, providing a system of checks and balances on each other that enhances the ability of our democracy to flourish, even in turbulent periods of change we sometimes experience as we work to create a “more perfect union” since North Carolina was founded, half slave and half-free in 1789,” Dr. Spearman said in a recent statement. “These meetings will help my new leadership team get its bearings since my October election as president of the NC NAACP, and help us make plans to move North Carolina forward together toward the 109-year-old purpose of the NAACP—to eliminate racial discrimination and prejudice from our society.”

Spearman continued, “We are delighted the leaders of two branches of the government have accepted our request for a meeting. We will keep the public informed about these historic meetings. In the spirit of the season, we trust we will be hearing from the legislative branch soon.”

The NCNAACP president added that the meetings will occur separately. “We are scheduled to meet with Justice Martin on Jan. 16, 2018,” Dr. Spearman said. “The meeting with the Governor has not given us a date yet. “

A reporter’s inquiry was emailed Tuesday to both Republican legislative leaders Berger [R- Rockingham}and Moore (R-Cleveland), asking if they intended to attend the meeting with the NCNAACP in the near future, and if not, why not?

There was no answer from either Senate Berger’s office or Speaker Moore’s office by press time Tuesday. Nor had either Republican leader responded directly to the NCNAACP.

“We are hopeful that we will get a response to our letter by the 15^th of December, but…you can mark me by this,” Dr. Spearman vowed on Nov. 27th, “… that if we do not receive anything, we are geared up to move forward, as we have been doing, to do rallies, whatever needs to be done, for such a time a this”.

It may not be wise for Dr. Spearman to hold his breath waiting for either Berger or Moore to respond positively, or otherwise.

In 2015, the Cleveland County NAACP blasted Speaker Moore for alleged voter suppression, the denial of Medicaid expansion, and failure to support an increase in the minimum wage for workers.

And in 2014, the NCNAACP went after Sen. Berger for creating and airing TV ads that misrepresented voting eligibility at the polls.

Neither Berger or Moore have never had a constructive statement about the NCNAACP, which they see as adversaries

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NCDP AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS

GEARING UP FOR 2018 ELECTIONS

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

As with Tuesday special election vote in Alabama, or the 2016 presidential and gubernatorial contests in North Carolina, the black vote is always key to Democratic victories. Simply put, if African-Americans vote in large numbers, Democrats win.

And if they don’t, Republicans remain in charge.

Linda Wilkins-Daniels is all too familiar with this act, and that’s why, now that she’s been elected to a second term a president of the African-American Caucus of the NC Democratic Party (AAC-NCDP), she’s rallying twenty-two chapters of the AAC-NCDP to mobilize the African-American vote to turnout for the all-important 2018 midterm elections.

“The agenda of the AAC is to promote political participation and education within the African-American community,” Wilkins-Daniels said. “To encourage African-Americans to seek public office, represent issues and concerns of its membership to the Democratic Party leadership, and work towards strengthening the Democratic Party>”

Even in the face of the Trump Administration and its controversial policies, and Republican majorities in the Congress and North Carolina legislature, Democrats believe they can possibly make tremendous headway on all electoral levels come 2018. Just this week, Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled the roster of legislative candidates who will be running for the NC General Assembly next year, and six of the candidates are women.

On top of that, former state Representative Linda Coleman ha already announced that she’s running for Congress in the tough Second Congressional District, seeking to unseat incumbent Republican US Rep. George Holding. And civil right Attorney Anita Earls is running for the NC Supreme Court.

“Qualified candidates,” Wilkins-Daniels said in reaction. “We have a lot of these in the black community.”

Wilkins-Daniels is convinced that the black vote can make all the difference in 2018, and she’s making sure that the AAC-NCDP is properly gearing up to do just that. But make no mistake, the AAC-NCDP president is the first to maintain that the Democratic Party “…has to take a look at itself.” She, along with other black Democrats, is frustrated with examples of the party not being loyal to it’s most loyal base of supporters – African-Americans.

Indeed, like the recent mayoral race in Raleigh showed, there is clear evidence that many of the party leadership will turn its back on qualified black candidates in favor of what are considered more bankable white candidates (in the Raleigh mayoral race, the incumbent was an unaffiliated white female, and her black challenger a Democrat, yet prominent Democrats like former Governor Jim Hunt publicly endorsed the white unaffiliated incumbent).

Wilkins-Daniels blasted the party for that, and pushed a online petition drive to have Hunt’s name removed from the annual Sanford – Hunt-Frye Democratic fundraising dinner. She insists that if black voters are going to continue to support the Democratic Party, then the party needs to stop even the appearance of taking the African-American vote for granted, and deliver on its promises, and become even more inclusive in it’s black candidate support.

“Or else more people will be driven away,” Wilkins-Daniels warns.

Right now, thanks to numerous court cases involving redistricting, exactly how the 2018 midterm elections shape up is up in the air. But Linda Wilkins-Daniels assures that the AAC-NCDP, through black voter issue education, and black voter mobilization, will be doing it’s part to take North Carolina back.

“We’re going to be a force to reckon with in the 2018 election,’ she promised.

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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 12-14-17

GOV. COOPER WANTS ACA ENROLLMENT EXTENDED A WEEK

[RALEIGH] Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as “Obamacare,” is supposed to end Friday, Dec. 15^th. But Gov. Roy Cooper feels the period should be extended at least by a week in order for more people in need of affordable health insurance to sign-up. Cooper asked Us Dept. of Health and Human Services Acting Sec. Eric Hargan to add more time so that more North Carolinians could go to www.healthcare.gov and register. The Trump Administration shortened the open enrollment period from three months to just six weeks. North Carolina has the third largest enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplace in the country.

FORMER WAKE REGISTER OF DEEDS INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

[RALEIGH] Laura Riddick, a Republican who served as Wake County Register of Deeds for 20 years, turned herself in to authorities this week after she was indicted by a grand jury for embezzling over $1million from the county office. An internal audit determined that upwards on $1,900-a –day was taken for several years. Three other former employees at the county Deeds Office were also indicted. The State bureau of Investigation has been investigating since March. Even though authorities have traced over a $1 million back to Riddick and the three former employees, the county has filed an insurance claim for $2,333,591.30 that it says is missing.

HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS COULD SEEM MAJOR HIKE IN HOME INSURANCE

[RALEIGH] If you own a home in North Carolina, or even rent an apartment, prepare to pay more to protect your property. That’s because insurance companies want to raise the rate of homeowners and renters insurance by as much as 18 percent, or even more, depending on where you live. Insurance companies say they have to cover the rising costs of coverage, especially in the aftermath of a destructive hurricane season.

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Tuesday, December 5, 2017

THE CASH JOURNAL FOR 12-7-17

EXCLUSIVE

BRADLEY CREEK ACTVITY DIRECTOR

FIRED; SAYS SHE’S NOT “THOUGHTLESS”

By Cash Michaels

Staff writer

The Activity Director at Bradley Creek at Carolina Bay who was responsive for a racist Christmas calendar that displayed an old image of a black mammy saying “Merry Christmas,” has been fired after the Wilmington Journal first and exclusively broke the story December 7^th.

In an online message sent to this reporter the following evening, Jennifer Dicicco Alaimo, the former Activity Director, wrote, “This is Jenny. At this time I think it best to not say anything.”

Meanwhile, Marvelia Jackson, the medical technician who was so disgusted by the black mammy calendar that she not only complained about it, but took a picture, and gave the evidence to Rev. Kojo Nantambu of the NCNAACP, told The Journal Friday that after she was called by Bradley Creek management Wednesday and told she was, “suspended until further notice” because of “resident complaints,” Ms. Jackson decided that she didn’t want to work in that kind of atmosphere any more.

All of the residents at Bradley Creek are white, as are the administrators, she says, while most of the housekeeping and other staffers are black. Jackson alleged previous racial tensions there, with some black staffers having been either suspended or fired.

Upon learning of her role in helping to expose the mammy calendar, some Journal readers have responded by agreeing that Ms. Jackson should find employment elsewhere. Some even gave recommendations of where she might be able to find work in her specialized field. The Journal passed that information onto her.

After The Journal broke the story Thursday afternoon, Jeff Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of Liberty Health Management, Bradley Creek’s parent company, sent a statement to this paper and other media, saying, in part, “The owners, management and administration of Bradley Creek are deeply embarrassed by and sincerely apologize for the use of this image and the pain it has caused. The thoughtless choice by one employee to use this image is not in any way a reflection of this organization’s values or culture.”

In a later statement to other media, Wilson confirmed that the employee responsible had been terminated, and while there was no review process for materials produced to be distributed to Bradley Creek residents prior to December 1^st, there is a process now.

Wilson invited The Journal to submit further questions about the incident to him for answers, which it did Friday, asking Mr. Wilson to respond by Tuesday, Dec. 12^th for a follow-up story.

On Friday morning, representatives of the state and NHC NAACP held a press conference to denounce the racist calendar, Bradley Creek and its parent company. Deborah Dick Maxwell, president of the NHC NAACP, demanded not only that Ms. Alaimo be fired (that hadn’t happened yet), but her superiors be terminated as well, adding that a complaint should be filed with the EEOC by Ms. Jackson for her questionable indefinite suspension. Ms. Maxwell also assured that the Legal Redress Committee of the NCNAACP was taking a close look at the situation, and promised that the NAACP is not finished with this case yet.

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THE "SLAVE LADY" BRADLEY CREEK CHRISTMAS CALENDAR

THE CASH JOURNAL FOR 11-30-17

CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 11-30-17

By Cash Michaels

TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOURSELF - Now that the Thanksgiving leftovers are almost gone, please allow me to offer the following.

Recently I heard someone speak with pride about eating something that was "low-calorie," and how this was "good" for them in their quest to lose weight.

In my mind, given my personal experience, I immediately questioned that, because, and most people I'm sure KNOW this... just because something is "low-calorie" DOES NOT mean it is healthy or good for you!

"Low-calorie" ice cream is NOT healthy if it still has the sugar, butter fat, and what ever else they put in it to make it taste good (usually the more fat they put in ice cream, the better it tastes).

The same with diet soda. Less calories DOES NOT mean it’s good for you. In fact, it seems like it's almost every month we hear of a new study telling us to drop diet sodas from our diets...and with good reason. The fake sugar makes us drink more of it, and now studies are suggesting cognitive problems later on in life.

But put all of that on the side for a moment...the reason why I’ve learned to ABSOLUTELY NOT buy into the diet craze anymore is because, again in my opinion AND personal experience over my 61 years, we, as Americans, have it all wrong.

Most of us (men AND women), seek to lose weight because of vanity. C'mon, you KNOW that's true. We want to look better in our clothes, and feel better while doing it. We spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars on everything from tummy-tucks to facelifts....you name it!

No, not you specifically, but you know there are folks who have the means who are vane enough to spend whatever it takes, just to "look" better, hoping that if they do, they'll automatically "feel" better, because then the world will more readily accept them as "normal," and not fat, or sloppy, or even "ugly."

Yeah, I get that this is human, but that's NOT because GOD wants it that way. We've convinced ourselves that that's the way it should be.

I once worked with a gospel radio announcer who was obese, and understandably hated that fact that he was absurdly overweight! But he was also a very popular gospel radio announcer who hosted a lot of local gospel concerts...where, because of his celebrity, he met a lot of women who loved his voice and personality, but were turned off when they saw him.

That bothered him so much, that he went and got an operation to staple his stomach smaller so that he wouldn't consume so much food, thus ultimately losing a lot of weight, and he did.

He slimmed down, looked much, much better, and all of a sudden, homeboy had this female and that female coming by the radio station almost every day to TAKE HIM out to lunch! The stomach stapling turned homeboy into a playboy!

Oh,...did I mention that he was married with a WIFE...and TWO CHILDREN!

Here's a man, who got on the radio daily, telling folks to obey the Lord, read their Bibles, pray for the "sick and the shut-in," everything good gospel radio announcers do, and he's losing weight for the sole purpose of feeling "better" about himself so he can play around behind his wife and two kids backs!

Now, that is an extreme case that I know personally, and it's not to say that any of you would do the same thing for the same reasons. I hope not, ESPECIALLY if you're married with children! But that doesn't mean that those of us who ARE overweight (and even though I've lost 50 LBS over the past five months, look and feel better, I STILL consider myself at least 25-30 LBS overweight) don't also feel some sense of inadequacy, or even inferiority.

I’ll get more into this next week! GOD bless!

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IMPORTANT DEADLINES ON

MEDICARE/ACA ENROLLMENTS

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

If you are in need of Medicare, or would like to sign up for 2018 coverage per Obamacare, you need to hurry because the deadline to enroll for both health insurance programs is fast approaching.

The enrollment deadline for Medicare is Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.

According to Medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for Medicare, Medicare, “…is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD).

Medicare is broken into different parts. Medicare Part A covers hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care.

Medicare Part B covers medical insurance for certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies and preventive services.

Medicare Part C are various health plans (also called Medicare Advantage Plans) offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits.

Medicare Part D offers prescription drug coverage, offered either through Original Medicare, insurance companies or private companies approved by Medicare.

Again, if you’re 65, o about to turn 65, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week to find out more. The enrollment deadline is Thursday, Dec. 7^th. Also visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan before Dec. 7th.

In North Carolina, SHIIP (the Seniors Health Insurance Information Program) can help with all questions about Medicare. Call 1-855-408-1212, or visit www.ncshiip.com.

For those under age 65 and still seeking affordable health insurance starting January 2018, the shortened open enrollment period for Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, ends on Friday, Dec. 15^th - two weeks from now.

According to published reports, an estimated 2.28 million people have signed up between Nov. 1^st, and Nov. 18^th. That’s more than the 2.1 million who enrolled in 2016 for 2018 coverage.

Observer say the public response has been remarkable, even though the Trump Administration cut the advertising and outreach by 90 percent, hoping to encourage people not to signup. At the end of the enrollment period on Dec. 15^th, the total number could still fall behind last year’s figures because the enrollment period was cut from three months to just 45 days.

And in order to qualify for federal tax subsidies to offset the rising cost of health insurance premiums, those seeking to apply should go online to www.healthcare.gov. An estimated – 496,420 residents - 85% of those insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBS) through the ACA are eligible for what are known as Advanced Premium Tax Subsidies (APT).

The average ACA health insurance premium is calculated at $662 per month, but after the APT subsidy tax credit kicks in, comes down to just $129 per month, and in some cases, as low as $87 a month.

For more information, call the NC Dept. of insurance to speak to a consumer specialist at 1-855-408-1212. Remember, the deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is Friday, Dec. 15^th.

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BISHOP BARBER POSING OUTSIDE OF THE VATICAN WITH THE VATICAN GUARD

EXCLUSIVE - DR. BARBER “SURPRISED” BY

MORAL MONDAY FAME IN ROME

Rome, Italy is over 4,600 miles away from Raleigh, NC, but when it came to “Moral Mondays,” the massive yet peaceful demonstrations held in North Carolina’s capital city, and led by the former president of the NCNAACP, no distance was too far as far as admirers attending last week’s international conference on labor at the Vatican were concerned.

“I was …surprised by how many leaders from around the world had been inspired by Moral Monday, the moral revival last year, and the Poor People’s Campaign plans,” Bishop Dr. William Barber, leader of the social justice group, “Repairers of the Breach,” said by text from the Vatican last week.

Dr. Barber was one of 300 participants from around the world attending the conference which addressed the conditions of working people, and the working poor. Representing the upcoming Poor People’s Campaign in the United States, Dr. Barber’s social justice reputation from the 12 years he led the NCNAACP preceded him, with an invitation already given him to attend and preach at another world gathering about labor rights and the poor in Liverpool, England next June. He has also been invited to Brazil next year.

As a birthday present, Dr. Barber took his mother, who had turned 84 the week before, along with his wife and one of his son, all part of an eight-person delegation.

In an exclusive telephone interview from Washington, DC Monday, Dr. Barber recalled two days of ”…long. intense eight-hour days…” of deeply committed religious and labor leaders working together. From countries like France, Sudan, England and others, Dr. Barber said he was greeted warmly by all.

Even the Vatican guards saluted him because of his title of “Bishop.”

During his presentation at the conference, Dr. Barber said, “Rightfully, the Pope has noted at the start of the twenty-first century that religious leaders must play a leading role in the struggle for justice in dialogue with all social and political actors. We must articulate a way of thinking that brings together the complexity of the current situation and proposes an action strategy for the construction of a just society. Not only is democracy at stake, but the wellbeing of world itself.”

Later in his remarks, Bishop Barber continued, “I believe Pope Francis’ call for a moral vision of the common good connected to a call for solidarity within the labor union economy and ethos is most important. I join you today as President of Repairers of the Breach and Co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival in the United States. We have identified five areas--five moral diseases that must be addressed if we are to be a people able to address the common good, promote the general welfare, and ensure the common defense, with liberty and justice for all. We must address systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy, and the immoral narrative of extreme religionism.”

Before he left, Dr. Barber was satisfied with how his presentation was accepted by other religious and labor leaders.

“Many of the points that we raised were in the final document produced by the conference as a guide to the way forward,” he texted.

And what about that much anticipated Thanksgiving Day meeting between Dr. Barber and Pope Francis that was scheduled during the two-day gathering? It got cancelled at the last minute,” Barber says.

“Up until 4 p.m. yesterday the Pope was scheduled to come and be with us,” Bishop Barber texted last Friday. “[But] we were informed around 4:15 p.m. that due to challenges around his trip to Malaysia, and other world events (like the mosque [terrorist] shootings in Egypt), he had to change [his plans].”

“[The Pope] sent a personal note to us and a papal letter,” Dr. Barber added.

Indeed, Pope Francis this week is walking a fine, and some say diplomatically peril less line during is visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh. Myanmar has cracked down on Rohingya Muslims in what some are calling an “ethnic cleansing.” Reports say villages are being burned and women and children are being raped, as over 600,000 refugees have fled to Bangladesh.

But before he left Italy, Pope Francis issued a letter at the conclusion of the international conference. In that papal letter, the Pope warned of “the money god” that leads to the exploitation of the working poor globally.

“Work must serve the human person,” Pope Francis said, not the other way around.” He added that “…every worker is the hand of Christ who continues to create and do good.”

Even though Dr. Barber wasn’t able to personally meet the Pope as he had hoped, he was able to present one of the Pope’s cardinals with gifts for His Eminence from the United States – a small stone from the home of North Carolina civil rights leader Ella Baker, and sand from the Rio Grande [River] where Barber walked with families traveling to see relatives from Mexico they had not seen in years.

Beyond the conference, if there was one consolation, Dr. Barber wrote, it was that one of the cardinals [from Ghana] he exchanged personal information with promised to visit with the bishop in North Carolina upon his next visit to the United States.

On Monday in Washington, DC, Dr. Barber, who is co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, which will commemorate it’s 50^th anniversary in April 2018.

Editor’s Note – you can red Dr. Barber’s Vatican presentation at https://thecashjournal.blogspot.com/p/bishop-william-j-barbers.html

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GOP BALKS AS SPECIAL MASTER

MAPS DEADLINE ARRIVES

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer

Friday, Dec. 1^st, is the deadline set by the federal three-judge panel for court-appointed Special Master Nathaniel Persily to turn in newly redrawn redistricting maps, presumably correcting voting maps redrawn by the Republican-led General Assembly last August that judges found “serious concerns” about.

But that hasn’t stopped Republican leaders from blasting the judges, Persily, and the entire redistricting process.

“We believe that our original maps that we passed in 2011 and our current maps that we passed [in August] following this mandate fully comply with the law,” NC House Speaker Tim Moore told the Moore County Republican Men’s Club during its monthly luncheon Nov. 20^th at the Country Club of North Carolina, as reported by The Pilot newspaper. “The new maps we adopted several months ago were based on what the federal courts told us we had to do. For example, ‘don’t take race into account.”

And on Oct. 24^th, House Majority Leader John Bell IV (R-Craven) told a Republican gathering Oct. 24^th at a Wayne County country club, “When you talk about corruption, let me tell you something; did you ever see the plaintiffs and the judges hanging out with each other?”

A recording of his remarks also had Bell saying, “I feel that they’ll actually, the Supreme Court, will agree with us.”

Last week, Speaker Moore sang the same High Court tune about what to expect next after the federal three-judge panel expectedly rules against Republican legislative leaders.

“We’re going to fight it all the way up [to the US Supreme Court] because at the end of the day, these are the maps of the people of North Carolina,” Moore told the Republican Men’s Club. “Those elected by the people of North Carolina have voted to draw these maps in compliance with the law as we understand it.”

Speaker Moore continued that the three-judge panel had no business appointing a special master in the first place.

“The three-judge panel wasn’t sure we complied so they appointed what is called a ‘special master’ … to go in and look at our districts and say how they could have been drawn better. What it looks like to us, No. 1, there aren’t many changes, and the changes that he made, it almost appears that the map drawer took race into account,” Moore said.

“I don’t, and we do not as leadership, believe that, No. 1, the court should be delegating its authority to decide a question of fact or question of law to some independent individual, to some professor from California, to draw the maps. What we believe they should do is say they think we did it wrong and show us where we did it wrong.”

One of the problems Moore and other Republican leaders have is that the three-judge panel actually hasn’t ruled on GOP lawmakers August maps, though the court did indicate that several of the voting remained racially packed, like 28 districts which the US Supreme Court ruled were unconstitutional per the 2011 maps, while several other districts were illegally changed unnecessarily.

A recent News and Observer analysis of the special master’s redrawn maps to be submitted Friday show that Democrats would have an easier time defeating Republicans in four House races, and two Senate races.

One particular Senate District 28, currently represented by Sen. Gladys Robinson (D- Guilford), would shift Republican Sen. Trudy Wade over to compete against her in Greensboro. But Robinson would have an advantage.

The three –judge panel is reportedly slated to hold a hearing on the Special Master’s report and maps on January 5, 2018 in Greensboro. Observers say expect republican legislative leaders to announce

an appeal to the US Supreme Court by February, 2018, right before candidate filing for the 2018 primary elections.

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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 11-30-17

By Cash Michaels

HIGHWAY NAMED AFTER DR. JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN DEDICATED IN DURHAM

[DURHAM] On Monday, Nov. 27^th, a section of the Interstate 85 Highway in Durham was officially named after famed African-American historian Dr. John Hope Franklin.

The “Dr. John Hope Franklin Highway” was dedicated at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, with dignitaries including Gov. Roy Cooper, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-12-NC) and state Sen. Floyd McKissick, Jr. (D-Durham) in attendance.

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx declared the stretch of highway between Cole Mill Road and U.S. 70 Bypass in Durham after Dr. Franklin before he left office.

COLEMAN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES FOR 2^ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT

[RALEIGH] Former three-term state House member Linda Coleman, a Democrat, officially threw her hat into the ring to run for the Second Congressional District seat currently occupied by Republican incumbent Rep. George Holding. Ms. Coleman, who previously mounted two failed attempts at running for lieutenant governor, made her announcement from the south grounds of the Old Capitol Building. The former school teacher said her campaign will focus on improving education, the economy, and affordable health care. Filing for the 2018 primaries are scheduled for February.

HARNETT COUNTY NAACP DEMANDS FIRING OF KICKING OFFICER

[DUNN] The Harnett County NAACP is demanding the firing of a Dunn police officer after a local television station aired a five-year old police dashcam video, showing a female officer kicking a handcuffed black male motorist after a brief car chase. WRAL-TV showed a 2012 dashcam video of the female, identified as Lt. Cary Jackson, kicking the suspect, identified as Seneca Jackson, after he exited his vehicle, got down on the ground, and was handcuffed by a male officer.

“At a press conference this week, Harnett County NAACP Pres. Carolyn McDougle, asked why the video was only coming to light now, five years after the incident. She blasted Dunn city officials for doing nothing about the officer. The Dunn city manager says the matter is being investigated, but would offer no statement directly addressing what the video shows.

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Monday, December 18, 2017

THE CASH JOURNAL FOR 12-21-17

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

THE CASH JOURNL FOR 12-14-17

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

THE CASH JOURNAL FOR 12-7-17

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

THE CASH JOURNAL FOR 11-30-17